NEW jet boat

[Old Guy]

This is going to be a little long. First you need to know I'm old (66 this year) Very successful in business (not boats). I've been reading the posts for a while now and I've noticed a common thread. We all seem to live in the past. The boats that we enjoy are old with big old (usually) motors. Some well healed dudes got blank checks and always let it all hang out. The rest just bust their chops to get a good ride and always have something to look forward to. I live on a lake in Mich.. There is a "Lake Assoc." with over 1200 members. It's a good sized lake. There are about a dozen "bad boys" on the lake. Around here 80mph is fast. State speed limit is 55 on lake. As long as your not stupid or real loud, the cops leave you alone. The point of this is....what does a new jet boat look like? Seems like the PWC's have taken over. There is obviously a market for a boat that looks like a boat and sounds at least a little bad. Don't they make 8 cyl motors any more? What would a modern jet boat look and sound like? Why does it need to look or sound very different from the boats we know. On this lake less than 1% of the boats are over 20'. Michigan had more than 800,000 registered watercraft owners 3years ago. I got $100 that says less than 5% are over 20' long. There is a huge market for "small" (20' or less) boats around here. Looking at the posts on the forums, it's easy to see that there is a lot of talent out there. The only thing that seems to be missing is marketing. Who is selling 2002 jet boats (not PWC folks), and what do they look and sound like?
Old Guy

[flat broke]

Old Guy,
Do little surfing and you'll be able to see pictures of what your asking about.
www.ultraboats.com (http://www.ultraboats.com) www.essexboats.com (http://www.essexboats.com) www.lightningbyultra.com (http://www.lightningbyultra.com)
so on and so forth.
Have fun,
Chris www.liquidaddiction.net (http://www.liquidaddiction.net)

[HBjet]

Sweet, 66 yrs old and getting a new custom jet boat! That's cool. I just want to say Ultra sells the most custom jet boats per year then any other custom builder. There gelcoats are very good, and they work with you on everything. Anyway, good luck and let us know what you decide to go with.
HBjet

[Unchained]

Hi Old Guy, I'm in Rockford, Mi. and a member of the Mi. Hot Boat Assn. You are welcome to come to any of our meets and see what boats people have. We are getting together for a winter party in Midland on Feb. 16. What lake do you live on?

[572Daytona]

Old Guy, check out this thread for a great example of what a new custom jet boat can look like: http://free.***boat.net/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001704.html
I live in the Southeast and agree completely that there is a market for JetBoats here and elsewhere. When I was in the market 2 years ago I had to fly to the West Coast and have a boat shipped from there. Somehow ***boat has managed to convince the boat companies that the only viable jetboat market is the Parker Strip area. SeaDoo and Yamaha are making lots of money selling crappy PWC jetboats to the rest of the country.

[MoJetBoPar]

I'm from MI too. http://free.***boat.net/ubb/smile.gif
And I'm one of those guys with "alwways something to look forward to".
Doesn't www.californiaperformanceboat.com (http://www.californiaperformanceboat.com) sell new Jet Boats. They have retro styling cues but maybe that's not what you want? I still like theirs the best.
[This message has been edited by MoJetBoPar (edited January 23, 2002).]

[beached1]

A cool thing about Ultra is the story behind a friend of mine's 21' Ultra jet. When he wanted a new boat, he wanted just the hull. He wanted to set the engine, pump, rigging, upolstery all himself. He had all the hardware and the means to this himself. He said Ultra was the only Boat builder that would sell him one. He said that everyone else just blew him off and wouldn't give him the time of day. I thought it was cool of Ultra to do that. They don't stand to make as much $ from someone just buying the hull rather than the whole complete boat. Not to mention what if the guy just wingin it and hacks a new boat together and then people might see it on the water and think, "Man the new Ultra's look like shit!" As it turned out this wasn't the case. This guys boat is sweet. And he saved a bundle too.

[Blown509Liberator]

beached1
Couger, Tom Papp and liberator would sell me a hull with no engine or pump no problem. They all said send them my intake and they will set it in the hull for me. You just have to shop around.
MikeW

[RiverToysJas]

I thought Eliminator did that a lot (or used to). That's how dcb and carrera got started, from what I've heard. Unless they only sell the bare hulls in bunches and not one at a time. I know there are other companies around that'll do it though.
B1, when did your friend buy his hull?
RTJas.

[fat rat]

Hey Old Guy, check with some of the boat performance shops around, that specialize in jets......they can set you up with a total custom boat....we did it last year and are very pleased. We also live on the east side, been running jets for 15 years and loving it. If you need any advise drop me an e-mail.

[Old Guy]

Wow! Thanks for the support guys. Actually I already own 3 jet boats. 572Daytona hit the nail on the head. "SeaDoo and Yamaha are making lots of money selling crappy PWC jetboats to the rest of the country" I see these crappy things more and more. I can't believe somebody couldn't mass produce, MARKET, and sell "real" jetboats for the same kind of money they're getting for the "toys". There is of course the remote possibility....I could be wrong. Waddya think?

[greg shoemaker]

I'm not sure what boat you are looking for but we are currently finishing up a Eliminator 19 Daytona going to MIss. an edge 19 going to CT. and have just taken an order for a Deck boat for a customer in New Mexico. Most Mfgs. will not sell to the general public due to the fact that there not sure how the boat is going to be put together . There a few shops around that will help with hull selection, the type of boat that will fit your needs and to what degree you wnat it completed. If you need some help feel free to call and I'll try to point you in the right direction. Greg 909 272 6060

[squirt]

I went to the Nor Cal boat show last week and they had a 2 engine 2 pump yahmaha about 18 foot and the are selling that pig for 22,000. In my opnion someone could still be laying up 18'-19'jet boats with around 400 hp for around 26,000-28,000 and still be making good money. The molds for these boats are still around and owned by these custom builders who make more money off the bigger boats. Custom graphics, expensive gauge kits, high hp, and the newest design interior drive up the prices. The fact is there is room for the more entrey level (base model) that would be close to the jet ski family style boatsin price. I'm not saying bayliners but it seems a great deal of our old style ***boats had there roots in a pretty base 16' Tahiti and grew from there. Sure would be nice to see some new 18' & 19' low profile boats being made.
ps. RR new ultra is great a "real" ***boat! just a little pricey and a little tooo much hp for the first time buyer.

[Old Guy]

RIGHT ON SQUIRT!!!!

[beached1]

I think the mass produced Yamaha and Sea doo jet boats are targeted for the potential Bayliner buyer markets. They look like them anyway. I don't ever think they could tap into the performance (***boat) boating markets. The thing that would bother me if I were shopping for a new boat is for just a few grand more, I could get a new custom (Real) jet boat.

[Old Guy]

Whoa! Now we're gettin to the point. You like to see lots of jet boats or not? I would like to see many more. "Hot Boat?" That's what you make out of a "Real" jet boat. Most of the boats that I see being called "Hot Boats" were made more than 20 years ago. If we could encourage the concept, maybe there would be a nice "fresh" supply of "Real" jet boats for us to convert to "Hot Boats". Near as I can see Yamaha and Sea Doo are just offering to fill a void created 20 years ago when a lot of people stopped making "Real" jet boats. The name of the game is $$$$$$$. Back then the market dried up. I really doubt that. I think more likely they ran out of momentum and business had been good for so long that they forgot how to sell their product. Like I said..There is a remote possibility that I could be wrong.

[MoJetBoPar]

Sorry Old Guy,
But, in regards to this statement, "I think more likely they ran out of momentum and business had been good for so long that they forgot how to sell their product."!
Historically, I've heard that in the late 70's gas prices and a recession squelched sales of RJB's (Real Jet Boats) literally overnight. Not to mention, the fact that there is a huge and terrible stigma regarding the jet as not being as efficient as an outdrive/V-drive/Outboard.
I own a 18' jet and dig it, but have to be reminded by everyone including non-boat people that "Jets are inefficient and waste fuel". I also, at this point, don't need/want a boat bigger than 22', preferably 18-19' since I'm not positioned near any of the Great Lakes (1 hour drive minimum) and I can usually only get out for an afternoon, not a whole day or weekend.
Many in MI, prefer something that holds people plus some cargo (refreshment, towels, etc) and is more stable on the big lakes too. Hence, the offshore market.
Don't get me wrong I would love to see a rebirth of a jet/V-drive era again. They are my favorites. But can a driveline be configured as inexpensively as some of these overseas offerings. GM/Ford big block crate motors aren't cheap, then there's the pump, fuel system and exhaust, not to mention the hull rigging, paint and interior. Plus labor.